Senior Associate Director

Special Instructions to Applicants:

All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice and the Enrollment Division:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

 Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

The Enrollment Division, comprising over 75 highly talented professionals, leads all undergraduate admissions and financial aid for the university. Included within the enrollment division is the Office of Admissions, the Office of Financial Aid, Enrollment Marketing and Communication, Enrollment Systems and Operations, University Partnerships, and Enrollment Analytics. The division has seen a doubling of applications since 2017, with nearly 37,000 applications and an admit rate under 8%. The division is also responsible for awarding millions of dollars in loan-free, grant aid through the Rice Investment, an innovative financial aid program that makes it clear for families what they will likely qualify for in advance of applying to the university. 

Position Summary:

The Senior Associate Director of Admission is a senior officer role responsible for developing and executing strategic recruitment initiatives with a focus on domestic and international student populations. This position leads recruitment travel and outreach to targeted markets and ensures the admissions process reflects the university’s commitment to academic excellence and diversity. The role requires deep expertise in both domestic and international educational systems, the ability to interpret complex academic credentials, and experience managing high-performing teams in a fast-paced, data-driven environment. Reporting to a Deputy Director, this individual will manage projects with a high degree of complexity, scope, visibility, and independence.

The Admissions Officer IV is an expert in the field of admissions and enrollment and helps administer the admission process for thousands of students each year.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The Senior Associate Director will manage advanced functions that correlate with their supervisor’s content area. Such functions may include, but are not limited to, managing major programs and outreach, international student recruitment, staff training and development, coordinating the file review process, etc. These functional areas may require delegating responsibilities and monitoring the work of other team members. The Senior Associate Director will interact with senior leadership to participate in strategic planning and decisions related to their work.

Workplace Requirements:

This position may be offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration, with a minimum of 3 days on campus after the six-month probationary period. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change. Travel required. This is a term-limited position from August 1, 2025 - July 31, 2026.

Proposed Hiring Range: $80,000 annually, dependent on experience and qualifications.
*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree
• 3+ years of experience working in a college or university admission office or as a high school college counselor or teacher

Skills:

• Domestic and International Recruitment Expertise: Demonstrated success in recruiting students from diverse global backgrounds and a nuanced understanding of inte